Sedgemoor

Sedgemoor's population increased by about 8,700 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 110,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Sedgemoor increased by 8.2%, from almost 106,000 to 115,000.

The addition of about 8,700 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Sedgemoor was home to, on average, 1.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Sedgemoor

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Sedgemoor increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 13.0% of people in Sedgemoor are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Sedgemoor by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Sedgemoor

The percentage of Sedgemoor residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 4.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.1%, while the percentage of Sedgemoor residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.7% to 88.7%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Sedgemoor

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Sedgemoor was among those who said they had no religion, rising 13.5 points.

In 2011, 28.7% of respondents in Sedgemoor gave this religion on the census compared with 15.2% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 70.0% said they were Christian, compared with 83.9% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 7.9% to 8.3%.

In Sedgemoor, 7.7% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.3% in 2001. In South West, 7.9% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Sedgemoor increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and Sedgemoor by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Sedgemoor that rented privately increased from 8.2% to 14.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 12.4%, while the percentage of Sedgemoor households that owned their home decreased from 76.6% to 71.3%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 17.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Sedgemoor increased by 6.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sedgemoor, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Sedgemoor working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.8% to 10.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13.3% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Sedgemoor decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Sedgemoor, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Sedgemoor residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.1% to 5.5% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79.7%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66.8% in 2001. The percentage of Sedgemoor residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24.1% to 14.8%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Sedgemoor decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Sedgemoor, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in Sedgemoor that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11.0% to 12.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (51.9%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 56.6% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Sedgemoor increased from 23.3% to 27.5%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 12.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 10.6% to 11.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Sedgemoor, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.7% to 8.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (35.9%) households had a married couple, compared with 39.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in Sedgemoor, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.4% to 10.5%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Sedgemoor residents that were unemployed increased from 2.7% to 3.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 51.5%, while the percentage of Sedgemoor residents that were self-employed increased from 10.5% to 11.5%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Sedgemoor residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Sedgemoor remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Sedgemoor by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Sedgemoor with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.7% to 8.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in four (27.3%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 28.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in Sedgemoor without children increased from 63.3% to 63.8%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.4% in 2001 to 8.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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